Folding-machine.



W. F. LAUTENSCHLAGERL FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION l 'lLED NOV. I6, 1914.

Patented Feb. 26, 1918.

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

w. F. LAUTENSCHLAGER.

FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-16.1914.

Patented Feb. 26,1918.

4 SHEETS SHEET 2.

T $2 A W2. 9M

W. F. LAUTENSCHLAGER.

FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED NOV-16,1914.

w. F. LAUTENSCHLAGER.

FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-16, I914.

Patented Feb. 26, 1918.

MW L 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- WILLIAM r. LannrnNsonJnaenN, or CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO IonENa iuumnnn, or NEWTON, MassAcHnsn'rTs. I

I'oLnINe-MaoHINE.

mamas.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. LAUTEN- SCHLAGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to folding machines for progressively folding the margins of flexible material, such as leather, cloth and the like, and is adapted for folding the mar gins of uppers of boots and shoes and parts thereof such as Vamps, quarters, foxings, button-flies, and the like, and for other purposes.

It is the object of my invention to provide novel means for controlling the stepby-step feedingmovements in a machine of this character; further to provide means for controlling a shiftable fold layin or pressing instrumentality, hereinafter esignated a fold-layer, shiftable for presenting the same forward and back and preferably at different angles crosswise of the normal feeding linecombined with means whereby to correlate the shifting movements of the fold-layer and the means for varying the lengths of the steps of feed; further to' provide means whereby said fold layer is shifted independently for a portion of its shifting movement and said fold-layer and a shifting member for said feeding means to change the lengths of steps of feed are simultaneously shifted-for another portion of the shifting movement of said fold-layer; further to provide means under the control of the operator during the operation of the machine for effecting said control; and, further, to provide novel means for shifting the shiftable member of snipping mechanism; and the invention will be further readily understood from the following description and claims, and from the drawings in which latter:

Figure 1 represents a front side elevation of my improved device partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is a rear side elevation of th same.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the same taken on the line 33.of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a front end elevation of the same.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 2%, 1.911.; Application filed November 16, 1914. Serial No. 872,391.

Fig. 5 is a plan section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. i

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-section taken on the irregular line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 77 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a detail showing the fold-layer on the hammer in forward position.

Fig. 9 is a front end view of the same.

Fig. 10 is a detail in section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 2, showing the means for moving the cutter-block.

Fig. 11 is a perspective 'view of the adjusting worm for adjusting the cutter-block.

Fold laying or pressing instrumentalities similar to the one I have herein shown and described, have been shown, described and claimed in my applications for patents on improvements 1n folding machines, filed respectively February 12, 1914, as Serial N o.

818,250, and October 26, 1914, as Serial N 0. 868,655, but my present invention is not limited to the shiftable fold laying or pressing instrumentalities therein shown and described, as it is applicable to any instrumentality having a similar purpose.

The means for effecting the movements of the feeding foot herein shown and described are substantially the same as those shown, described and claimed in my application for patent on improvements in folding machines, filed June 21, 1911, Serial No. 634,485, but my improved device is not limited in its application to the means for operating the feeding instrumentality therein shown and described, as the same is applicable to any instrumentality imparting an intermittent feed movement to the material.

The means herein shownand described for effecting the feeding operation of the feeding-foot, and the operation of the snipping-knife and presser-foot, and for mounting the feeding-foot, and the construction and arrangements of said parts, not claimed issued as Patents Nos. 1,121,851 and p operators position is in front of that por-- tion of the machine shown in Fig. 1, and to theright of the machine as shown in Fig.

. is to be folded, is arranged to be fed with a step-by-step or intermittent feeding movement, shown in the present exemphfication as accomplished by a feeding foot 11, a

folder, exemplified as a folding block 12,-

being arranged to partially fold the margin of the material, the fold being laid or pressed by a hammer 13 embodying a shiftable fold laying or pressing instrumentality shown as a fold-layer 14, having a fold-contacting face 15, a presser-foot 16 holding the material in place during the return movements of the feeding foot. The material is arranged to be fed upon amaterialsupporting table 17 with the edge thereof guided by a side-guide 18. suitable S1111): ping means are provided, and in the present exemplification comprise a lower cutterblock 19 and an upper oscillating knife 20.

The snipping means are arranged to be placed in inactive relation by novel means when operating on material having straight or convex'edges and are arranged to snip the margin of the material when the margins are described on concave curves.

I shall now describe the means herein exemplified for effecting these movements.

21 represents the main frame, which has an upper overhanging arm 22, overhanging the material-supporting table 17. A driveshaft 26 is journaled in suitable bearings 27 and operated in suitable manner as by means of a pulley 28.

Rock-shafts 31, 32, are journaled respectively in bearings 33, 34. The rock-shaft 31 is arranged to oscillate the feeding-foot, while the rock-shaft 32 is arranged to raise and lower the presser-foot, and to raise and lower the feeding-foot durin the oscillations of the latter. The feedlng-foot is on a stem 35 which reciprocates longitudinally in a feeding-foot housing 36. The stem is normally urged toward the table by a spring 37 r between the feeding-foot housing and stem. The feeding-foot housing is secured to the rock-shaft 31 by a clamp-bearing 38.

The feeding-foot is arranged to operate in opposition to an idler roller 39 journaled on a shoulder-screw 40 for feeding the material.

The resser-foot is on a presser-foot lever 43 secured to a rock-shaft 41 journaled in a bearing 42 in the arm 22, and is normally pressed toward the table by, a sprin 44 located in a socket-screw 45 adjustab e in a threaded bearing 46. For raising the resser-foot, the rock-shaft 32 is provided with a rocker-part 47 having a contact-lug 48 thereon, arranged to act against a spring 49 received in a socket-bolt 50 adjustable on the presser-foot lever 43 for resiliently raising the Presser-foot. The rocker-part has a clamp-bearing 51 about the rock-shaft 32.

The rocker-part has an arm 54 articulated with a raiser-link 55, which has a pocket 56 at its upper end for receiving the pin 57, secured by means of a clamp-bearing 58 to the feeding-foot stem for raising the latter. The movement of the rocker-part 47 is idle with relation to the feeding-foot for part of its range, during which idle relation the feeding foot is rocked by the rock-shaft 31 in its feeding movement.

61'is' a rock-shaft journaled in a bearing 62 of the main frame. It has an arm 63 fast thereon, by means of a clamp-bearing 64, the arm being articulated at 65 with a link 66 having a bearing 67 about an eccentric 68 on the drive-shaft. The rock-shaft 61 also has an arm .71 fast thereon by a clampbearing 72.

The rock-shaft 31 has an arm 73 fast thereon by means of a clamp-bearing 74. 75, 76, are a pair of links one of which is articulated on a pin 77 with the arm 71 andthe other of which is articulated by a pin 78 with the arm 73, a pin 79 having connection with the outer ends of said links for pivotally connecting said outer ends.

The pivotal connection 79 is arranged to be shifted toward and from the axial line of the rock-shaft 61. When placed in axial line with said rock-shaft, the oscillation of said rock-shaft has no effect on the rockshaft 31 and consequently there is no feeding movement imparted to the feeding-foot.

.If, however, the pin 79 is placed out of axial line with the rock-shaft 61, there will be oscillation imparted to the pin 79 through the arm 71 and the link 75, the extent of oscillation depending on the distance of removal of the axis of the pin 79 from the axial line of the rock-shaft 61, this oscillation being imparted to the link 76 and the arm 73 for rocking the rock-shaft 31, thereby determining the extent of oscillating movement of the feeding-foot and the length of steps of the feed imparted thereby.

For positioning the outer ends of the links with relation to the axial line of the rock-shaft 61, the pin 79 has articulation with a link 81 which in turn has articulation at 82 with an arm 83 on a hub 84 journaled about the rock-shaft 32.

. The hub has a friction-band 86 therememes about received in an annular rabbet 87 of the hub. The friction of the band upon the hub is controlled by an adjusting Screw 88 received through lugs 89, 90, of said friction-band, the adjusting screw being threaded in the lug 90. A spring 91 is located between a nut on the screw and the lug 89 for cushioning the pressure of the friction-band.

The friction-band has a bearing 92 thereon in which the stem 93 of an adjusting screw 94 is received for positioning the friction-band. threaded in a threaded bearing 95 in the arm 22, and is arranged to contact a lug 96 on the hub 84 for limiting the movement of said hub in one direction, exemplified as the position of longest-space of feed it is desired to have imparted to the feeding-foot.

The length of these steps of feed is controlled by this adjusting screw, which is provided with a head 97 for turning the same, and has a lock-nut 98, shown as a wing-nut, received thereabout for locking the same in adjusted positions.

A ratchet-wheel 101 is journaled about a stud 102 on the hub 84, and is frictionally held to the hub, as by providing a spring 103 in a recess 104 in said stud, arranged to contact the ratchet-wheel. the present exemplification presses the journal-face of the ratchet-wheel opposite the spring about the stud for forming a brake between the hub and ratchet-wheel. The frictional resistance at the ratchet-wheel is greater than the frictional resistance of the friction-band 86 for normally causing combined movements of the ratchet-wheel and hub when such movement is desired, the friction-band preventing unintentional return movement of the hub. The hub is located on the rock-shaft 32 between a clamp bearing 105 and a collar 106 secured to the rock-shaft by a set-screw 100.

The clamp-bearing 105 is the means exemplified for securing the arm 107 to the rock-shaft 32, the arm having articulation at 108 with a link 109 provided with a bearing 110 aboutan eccentric 111 on the driveshaft for rocking the rock-shaft 32 and consequently the rocker-part 47.

The articulation 108 is shown as a pin, which is extended laterally, and has a pawl 114 pivoted thereon, arranged to coact with the ratchet-wheel, and arranged so that the reciprocating movements of the pin .will cause actuation of the ratchet-wheel. These actuations are continuous during the opera-' tion of the machine, but are effective to turn the hub 84 only when the hub is in released relation and its lug 96 is distanced from the end of the adjusting screw 94, and when actuation of the hub does take place it takes place with a step-by-step movement for effecting a gradual return of the length The adjusting screw 94 is The spring in tilt of feeding step from a minimum length of step to the maximum length permitted by the ad ustment of the adjusting screw 94.

The pm 108 is provided with a collar 115 for posltioning the same with relation to the arm 107 and link 109, being clamped in place by the clamp-bearing 1030f the arm; this collar being preferably polygonal in cross-section so as to permit the same to be turned for adjusting the tension of a coilspring 116, the respective ends of which are received in the slot 117 in the collar and an aperture 118 in the pawl. The pawl is held on the pin by means of a screw 119.

The knlfe 20 is adjustably secured to a knife-lever 123 which comprises a hub 124 in the form of a hearing about the cross-shaft 125 located in bearings 126 in the tableframe.

The cutter-block 19 is located on a slide 130, being preferably secured thereto by means of a clamp-screw 131 screwed into the pedestal 132 of said slide through a slot 133 in the cutter-block. The slide slides in a guideway 134 of the table and is provided with a rearwardly extending arm 135 from which a'lug 136 depends. 137 is a worm whose thread has a great helix angle and has bearing in a coacting worm-bearing 138 in the lug, and has a shank 139 journaled 1n a bearing 140 depending from the table-frame.

A rocker-arm 141 is secured by a clamphearing 142 to the shank of the worm 137 and has articulation at 143 with a link 144 articulated at 145 with a lever 146 pivoted on a shoulder-screw 147 screwed into the table-frame. A spring 148 has its respec tlve ends attached to the lever and the tableframe for normally holding the cutterblock in cutting relation. A link 149 connects with the lever 146 and with a suitable treadle, not shown because well known, for placlng the controlled member of the snipping mechanism in inoperative relation when desired.

The spiral connection between the rockershank 139 and the knife-slide maintains the knife-slide in true relation in its adjusted position and at the same time permits a material extent of movement of the knife-slide upon only partial rotation of the shank. For aiding in determining the positions of the control-member of the snipping mechanism at its limits of movements, I prefer to provide the lever 146 with arms 151, 152, provided with set-screws 153, 154, held in adjusted positions by lock-nuts 155, 156, the set screws being adapted to contact a suitable rigid part of the machine, as for instance, the lower face of the table-frame.

The fold-layer 14 is exemplified as on a lever 161 pivoted on a shoulder-screw 162 on a hammer-lever 163 comprising a hub 164 in the form of a bearin about a crossshaft 165 received in bearings 166 in the table-frame and comprising an arm 167 and an arm 168. The arm 167 may, if desired, have a fold-pressing part 169 thereon acting in rear of the part 14.

The knife-lever 123 and the hammer-lever 103'are exemplified as actuated by means of eccentrics on the drive-shaft. The driveshaft is provided with an eccentric 171 about which an eccentric strap 172 is received. A link 173 extends from this strap and has a ball and socket connection 174: with the knife-lever.

The drive-shaft is further provided with an eccentric 170 about which a bearing 177 is received. A slide-frame 178 is received about the bearing and has slide-connection therewith. A link 181 extends from the slide-frame and has ball and socket connection 182 with the hammer-lever, forming a ball and socket joint. The pressing force of the eccentric 176 upon the hammer is imparted through the medium of a spring 185 between the bearing 177 and the end wall 186 of the slide-frame, so that the pressure exerted by the fold laying and pressing instrumentalities upon the folded margin may be a yielding pressure for permitting the fold-presser to yield to inequalities in the material and" to exert a yielding pressure upon the fold for pressing the fold.

The position of the fold-layer with relation to the fold of the margin is preferably under the control of the operator during the operation of the machine. I have exemplified its movement as a pivotal movement for presenting the fold-contacting face 15 thereof at various angles extending crosswise of the fold of the margin being folded when in fold-pressing relation. The hammer reciprocates and the adjustment stated determines the path of movement of the fold-contacting face.

For accomplishing this in the present exemplification I provide the fold-layer 161 with a pin 190. A lever 191 is pivoted by a bearing 192 about the rock-shaft 32 and has an arm 193 to which a laterally extending arm 194 is secured. This laterally extending arm is provided with a fork 195, between the tines of which the pin 190 is received, so as to swing the fold-layer when the lever 191 is operated. The lever 191 is provided with an arm 196 having a finger-part 197 thereon for manually operating the lever.

- A helical spring 198 is received about the shaft 32, one end thereof being connected with the lever 191, as shown at 199, the other end thereof being connected at 200 with a collar 201 secured to the rock-shaft by a setscrew 202.

The fold-layer is arranged to be in forward position when laying the fold of the margin along convex curves and in rearward position when laying the fold of straight margins or margins having concave curves, as more fully explained in my aforesaid ap plications first mentioned; Means are provided for positioning this instrumentalitv in intermediate position, which is desirable when laying the folds of margins having only short straight or concave portions, as well as convex portions described on curves having comparatively long radii, in which case manipulation of the fold-layer during operation of the machine is in practice not necessary, if such adjustment of the foldlayer is made.

For positioning the fold-layer in intermediate positions I provide its operating lever, in the present exemplification, with a cam 205 pivoted to the operating lever on a shoulder-screw 206, the cam being frictionally held in adjusted position by a cupwasher 207 between the head of said shoulder-screw and the cam. The cam is arranged to strike a suitable stationary part, for instance, the bottom of the arm 22, for locating the fold-layer in its adjusted position. The cam is provided with an arm 208 arranged for manually positioning the cam with relation to the operating lever.

In practice it is desirable to shorten the lengths of steps of feed when folding the margin along short convex curves, and when folding the margins along such curves it is also desirable to position the fold-layer in forward position. For accomplishing these desires with one operation, and preferably simultaneously, I provide means whereby the means for controlling the lengths of steps of feed and positioning of the foldlayer are connected, preferably by means which are under the control of the operator during the operation of the machine. It is further desirable at times to position the fold-layer in intermediate position without affecting the lengths of steps of feed, for instance when folding vamps having short straight or concave portions as well as convex portions described on curves having comparatively long radii. I therefore provide means whereby a partial shifting movement of the fold-layer may be effected without affecting the mean for. changing the lengths of steps of feed.

It is further desirable that the return from minimum to maximum lengths of steps of feed during operation of the machine may be effected preferably in gradual steps and that the return of the fold-layer to normal position may be effected with a quiek movement. I have, therefore, provided connections whereby an independent movement of the fold-layer for a portion of the movement of the fold-layer may be effected, and a combined movement of the fold-layer and the aaeaaaa .of the means for shortening the steps of feed of the feeding means, may be accomplished.

Thus the hub 84 is provided with a laterally extending arm 211 which extends into range with the lever 191, lint normally spaced therefrom by a space 212, so that after the lever 191 has been moved a,,.,por tion of its range of movement, namely through the space 212, for moving the foldlayer into intermediate position, without effect upon the hub 84, the laterally extending arm 211 will be contacted by the lever 191, in the further movement of said lever, for moving said hub about the rock-shaft 32, whereby the links 75, 76, are moved for placing the axis of the pin 7 9 more nearly into coincidence with the axial line of the rockshaft 61, and whereby. further the lug 96 is moved away from the end of the adjusting screw94c, for reducing the lengths of steps of feed, if desired, to the minimum. The parts will remain in this position as long as the operator maintains his finger on the finger-part 197 for depressing the same.

When this finger-part is released, it will be free to move back into normal position, bringing the fold-layer back with a quick sweep, but the hub 84 will be maintained in its position by the action of the frictionband. Upon the next movement of the rockshaft 32 for actuating the pawl 114:, the ratchet-wheel will be actuated, for-instance, for the distance of one tooth, for returning the hub 84 and consequently the pivot 79 to this extent toward normal position, and thereby lengthen the step of feed the resultant of the movement of one tooth of the ratchet-wheel, the next rocking movements of the rock-shaft 32 each again moving the hub for the distance, for instance, of one tooth, until the lug 96 011 the hub strikes the end of the adjusting screw 94, whereupon the link will have been returned to normal position and the lengths of steps of feed Will again be normal, that is to say, the maximum to which they have been adjusted.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, the combination of step-by-step feeding means, a folder, a reciprocating fold-layer reciprocating in a path toward and from said margin being folded and comprising a fold-laying face adjustable for extending in different directions crosswise of the fold of said margin when in fold-contacting relation for changing its path of reciprocating movement with relation to said folder, and a part having operative connection with said fold-layer and with an element of said feeding means for changing said path of reciprocation of said fold-laying face of said fold-layer and the lengths of steps of feed of said feeding means.

2. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, the combination of step-by-step feeding means, a folder, a reciprocating fold-layer reciprocating in a path toward and from said margin being folded and comprising a fold-laying face adustable for extending in different directions crosswise of the fold of said margin when in fold-contacting relation for changing its path of reciprocating movement with relat on to said folder, and apart having operatrve connection with said fold-layer and with an element of said feeding means for changing said path of reciprocation of said fold-layin face of said fold-layer and the lengths of steps of feed of said feeding means, said last-named means being under the control of the operator during the operation of the machine. for effecting said changes. v

3. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, the combination of step-by-step feeding means, a folder, a reclprocating fold-layer reciprocating-in a path toward and from said margin being folded and comprising a fold-laying face adjustable forward and back for changing its path of reciprocating movement with relation to said folder, and means under the manual control of the operator during operation of the machine having operative connection with said fold-layer and with an element of said feeding means for changing said path of reciprocation of said fold-laying face of said fold-layer and the lengths of steps of feed of said feeding means, acting independently on said fold-layer during a portion of its manual adjustment and acting collectively on said fold-layer and said element of said feeding means during another portion of its manual adjustment.

4. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, the combination of step-by-step feeding means, a folder, a reciprocating fold -layer reciprocating in a path toward and from said margin being folded and comprising a fold-laying face adjustable forward and back for changing its path of-reciprocating movement with relation to said folder, means under the manual control of the operator during operation of the machine having operative connection with said fold-layer and with an element of said feeding means for changing said path of reciprocation of said fold-laying face of said fold-layer and the lengths of steps of feed of said feeding means, acting independently on said fold-layer during a portion of its manual adjustment and acting collectively on said fold-layer and aid element of said feeding means during another portion named means.

path toward and from the margin being folded, said fold-layer comprising a foldlaying face adjustable for extending in different directions crosswise of the fold of said margin when in fold-contacting relation for changing its means having operative connection with an element of said fold-layer and with an element of said feeding means for changing said path of reciprocation of said fold-laying face of said fold-layer and the lengths of steps of feed of said feeding means, said operative connection being a spaced connection with one of said elements, and said lastnamed means being under the control of the operator during the operation of the machine for effecting said changes.

6. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, the combination of step-by-step feeding means, a folder, a reciprocating fold-layer reciprocating in a path toward and from the margin being folded, said fold-layer comprising a foldlaying face adjustable for extending indifferent directions crosswise of the fold of said margin when in fold-contacting relation for changing its path of reciprocating movement with relation to said folder, and means having operative connection with an element of said fold-layer and with an element of said feeding means for changing said path of reciprocation of said fold-laying face of said fold-layer and the lengths of steps of feed of said feeding means, said operative connection being a spaced connection with one of said elements.

7. In a folding machine for folding the mhrgiti of flex'ble material, the combination of step-by-step feeding means, a folder, a reciprocating fold-layer reciprocating in a path toward and from the margin being folded, said fold-layer comprising a foldlaying face adjustable for extending in different directions crosswise of the fold of said margin when in fold-contacting relation for changing its path of reciprocating movement with relation to said folder, means having operative connection with an element of said fold-layer and with an element of said feeding means for changing said path,

of reciprocation of said fold-laying face of said fold-layer and the lengths of steps of feed of said feeding "means, said operative connection being a spaced connection with one of said elements, and means for adjusting the length of said spaced connection.

path of reciprocating movement with relation to said folder, and

S. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, the combination of step-by-step feeding means, and folding and fold pressing means, the former comprising a controlling part for controlling the lengths of steps of feed and the latter comprising a reciprocating fold-layer having a fold-contacting face, said fold-layer pivoted for presenting its fold-contacting face in various directions crosswise of the fold when in fold-contacting relation, means for simultaneously swinging said fold-layer on its pivot and adjusting said controlling part, and step-by-step returning means for returning said controlling part to normal position.

5.). In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, the combination of step-by-step feeding means, and folding and fold pressing means, the former com prising a controlling part for controlling the lengths of steps of feed and the latter comprising a reciprocating fold-layer having a fold-contacting face, said fold-layer pivoted .for presenting its fold-contacting face in various directions crosswise of the fold when in fold-contacting relation, and means for simultaneously swinging said fold-layer on its pivot and adjusting said controlling part.

10. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, the combination of step-by-step feeding means, and folding and fold pressing means, the former comprising a controlling part for controlling the lengths of steps of feed and the latter comprising a reciprocating fold-layer having a fold-contacting face, said fold-layer pivoted for presenting its fold-contacting face in various directions crosswise of the fold when in fold-contacting relation, and means under the manual control of the operator during the operation of the machine for simultaneously swinging said fold-layer on its pivot and adjusting 'said controlling part.

11. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material lengthwise of said margin, the combination of progressively acting means for feeding said material, and folding and fold pressing means for forming a fold in said margin which extends lengthwise of the direction of feeding movement, said feeding means comprising means for automatically and stepwise changing the lengths of steps of feed.

12. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material lengthwise of said margin, the combination of progressively acting means for feeding said material, and folding and fold pressing means for forming a fold in said margin extending lengthwise of the direction of feeding movement, said feeding means comprising means for automatically changing the lengths of steps of feed in consonance with said steps of feed.

mamas sively acting means for feeding said mate rial, and folding and fold pressing means for providing said margin with a fold extending lengthwise of the direction of feeding movement, said feeding means comprissteps of said feeding means, folding and ing the lengths of steps of said step-bystep ing means for automatically and stepwise changing the lengths of steps of feed, and means whereby said last-named means are initiated by the operator during the operation of the machine 14. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, the combination of step-by-step feeding means comprising a movable part arranged by a change in position thereof to change the lengths of fold Pressing means, and means for changfeeding means comprising a rockable part having connection with said movable part for moving the same, an intermittently movable part having friction connection with said rockable part for rocking the same, and

means for intermittently moving said lastnamed part.

15; In a folding machine for'folding themargin of flexible material, the combination of step-by-step feeding means, folding and fold pressing means, the former 'comprising a controlling part for controlling the lengths of steps of feed and the latter comprising a reciprocating fold-layer having a fold-contacting face, said fold-layer pivoted for presenting its fold-contacting face in various directions crosswise'of the fold when in fold-contacting relation, and means for simultaneously swinging said fold-layer on its pivot and adjusting said controlling part comprising means for returning said fold-layer to normal position with a quick movement, and for returning said controlling part with a gradual movement extending over aplurality of steps of feed of said feeding means.

16. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, the combination of feeding, folding and fold pressing means comprising a roclcshaft. said feeding means being step-by-step feeding means comprising a movable part arranged by a change in position thereof to change the lengths of steps of said feeding means, and means for moving said movable part comprising a hub about said rock-shaft, a ratchet-wheel having friction engagement with said hub,

a friction-band for retarding movement of said hub, and a pawl having operative connection with said rock-shaft for intermittently moving said ratchet-wheel and thereby intermittently changing the position of said movable part.

L 17.. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, the combination of folding and fold pressing means and stepby-step feeding means comprising a r0ckshaft and a movable part. arranged by a change in position thereof to adjust the lengths of steps of said feeding means, and means for adjusting said movable part comprising a hub about said rock-shaft, a ratchet-wheel having friction engagement therewith, a friction-band for retarding movement of said-hub, a bearing on said friction-band, an adjusting screw for said hub in said bearing, and a pawl for said ratchet-wheel having operative connection with said rock-shaft.

18. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, the combination with progressively acting feeding means and folding and, fold pressing means, of snipping-means comprising a pair of snipping parts, and means for adjusting one of said snipping parts relative to the other of said snipping parts comprising a Worm whose thread has a great helix angle and has worm connection with said movable snipping part, and means under the control of the operator during operation of the machine for turning said worm.

' 19. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, the combination with progressively acting feeding means and folding and fold pressing means, of snipping means comprising a pair of snipping parts, and means for adjusting one of said snipping parts relative to the other of said snipping parts comprising a worm whose thread has a great helix angle and has worm connection with said movable snipping part, means under the control of the operator during the operation of the machine for turning said worm, and means for adjusting the range of movement of said worm.

20. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, the combination of folding and fold pressing means, step-by-step feeding means comprising a movable part, means for adjusting the lengths of steps of feed of said step-by-step feeding means comprising a rockable part, an adjusting screw for limiting movement of said rockable part in one direction, manually operated means for rocking said r0ck able part in the opposite direction, means for returning said rockable part comprising an intermittently movable part having operative connection with said rockable part, and means for intermittently moving said interm ttently movable part.

21. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, the combination of folding means, step-by-step feeding means comprising a movable member arranged by a change in its position to change the .lengths of steps of feed of said feeding means, means under the control of the operator during operation of the machine for changing the position of said movable member for effecting said change in length of step of feed, and means for returning said movable member to normal position with a' step-by-step movement. I

22. In a folding machine for, folding the margin of flexible material, the combination of folding means, step-by-step feeding means, operating devices for the machine, said step-by-step feeding means comprising a movable member arranged by a. change in its position to change the lengths of steps of feed of said feeding means, means under control of the operator during operation of the machine for changing the position of said movable member for effecting said change in length of step of feed, and means for returning said movable member to normal position having operative connection with a member of said operating devices.

23. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, the combination of folding means, step-by-step feeding means, operating devices for the machine, said step-by-step feeding means comprising a movable member arranged by a change in its position to change the lengths of steps of feed of said feeding means, means for adjusting the normalposition of said movable member, means under control of the operator during operation of the machine for changing the position of said movable memher for effecting said change in length of step of feed, and means for returning said movable member to normal position having operative connection with a member of said operating devices.

24. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, the combination of folding and fold pressing means, a presser-foot and step-by-step feeding means, a rock-shaft therefor, said feeding means comprising a movable part arranged by a change of position thereof to adjust the lengths of steps of feed of said step-by-step feeding means, and means for shifting said movable part comprising a hub about said rock-shaft having operative connection with said movable part for moving the same, a friction device for retarding movement of said hub, and an intermittently movable wheel about said hub having friction connection therewith for moving the same, said last-named friction connection being of greater resistance than said first-named friction connection, said rock-shaft having operative connection with said intermittently movable wheel for intermittently moving the same.

25. In a folding machine for folding the I menses margin of flexible material, the combination of folding and fold pressing means, stepby-step feeding means comprising an intermittently acting feeding device, an operating part, an operated part having connection with said feeding device, constitutingv a pair of parts, and a pair of links articulated together at one of their ends and at the other of their ends articulated to said pair of parts, a rockable part having operative connection with said one of said ends of said links for movin the same, means for adjusting the limit of said movement in one direction, means under the manual control of the operator during operation of the machine for moving said rockable part to its limit of movement in the opposite direction, and means for returning said rockable part comprising an intermittently moving part having operative connection with said rockable part, and means for operating said intermittently moving part. i

26. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, the combination of folding and fold pressing means, and step-by-step feeding means comprising a movable part arranged by a change in position thereof to control the lengths of steps of feed of said feeding means, a reciprocating part, and means for moving said movable part comprising a hub, a friction device for retarding movementof said hub, and a ratchet-wheel and pawl having operative connection respectively with said hub and said reciprocating part for intermittently moving said hub and thereby intermittently changing the position of said movable part.

27. In a folding machine for foldin the margin of flexible material, the combination of folding and fold pressing means, step-by-step feeding means comprising a movable part arranged by a change in position thereof to change the lengths of steps of feed of said feeding means, a rockable part, an intermittently moving part having friction connection with said rockable part, friction means for retarding the movement of said rockable part, said first-named friction connection having greater friction resistance than said friction means, and means for moving said intermittently moving part.

28. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, the combination of folding and fold pressing means, s'tep-by-step feeding means comprising a movable part arranged by a change in position thereof to change the lengths of steps of feed ofsaid feeding means, a rockable part having connection with said movable part, an ad usting screw for ad'ustably limiting movement of said rocka le part, an intermittently moving part having friction connection with said rockable part, a fricaaaaeea tion band for retarding the movement of said rockable part, means for adjusting the friction resistance of said friction-band, a bearing on said band, said adjusting screw having lengthwise movement in said hearing, said friction connection having greater friction resistance. than said friction-band, and means for moving said intermittently moving part.

29. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, the combination of a reciprocating fold-layer. reciprocating in a path toward and from said margin being folded and comprisin an adjustable foldlaying part having t iereon a fold-laying face, step-by-step feeding means independent of said fold-layer, and a member having operative connection with said adjustable fold-laying part and with an elementof said feeding means for changing said ath of reciprocation of said adjustable old-laying part and the lengths of steps of feed of said feeding means.

30. In a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, the combination of a reciprocating fold-layer reciprocating in a path toward and from said mar in being folded and comprising an adjustable foldlaying part having thereon a fold-laying face, step-by-step feeding means independent of said fold-layer, and a member having operative connection with said adjustable fold-laying part and with an element of said feeding means for changing said path of reciprocation of said adjustable fold-laying part and the lengths of steps of feed of said feeding means, said member being under the control of the operator during the operation of the machine for effecting said changes.

31. lln a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, the combination of a reciprocating fold-layer reciprocating in a path toward and from said margin being folded and comprising an adjustable fold-laying part having thereon a fold-lay-' ing face, step-by-step feeding means independent of said fold-layer, a member having operative connection with said adjustable fold-laying part and with an element of said feeding means for changing said path of reciprocation of said adjustable fold-laying part and the lengths of steps of feed of said feeding means, and means for automatically returning said element of said feeding means to normal position with a step-by-step movement.

32. ln a folding machine for folding the margin of flexible material, the combination of a reciprocating fold-layer reciprocating in a path toward and from said margin being I folded and comprising an adjustable foldlaying part having thereon a fold-laying face, step-by-step feeding means independent of said fold-layer, and a member under the manual control of the operator during operation of the machine having operative connection with said adjustable fold-laying part and with an element of said feeding means for changing said path of reciprocat1on of said adjustable fold-laying part and the lengths of steps of feed of said feeding means, acting independently on said adjustable fold-laying part during a portion of its manual adjustment and acting collectively on said fold-laying part and said element of said feeding means, during another portion of its manual adjustment.

33. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a folder for partially forming the fold, a presser for descending upon the partially folded margin, means for feeding t e material intermittentl mechanism for varying the extent of the intermittent feed movements, and connections between said presser and feed varying mechanism constructed and arranged to cause said presser to descend upon the partiall folded margin at a point the location of w ich depenids upon the extent of said intermittent ee s.

o A machine of the class described, havmg in combination, means for intermittently feeding a piece of material into position to have its margin operated upon, a folder for partially forming the fold, a resser for descending upon t e partially olded margin, and mechanism for varying the extent of the intermittent feed movements, said mechanism being constructed and arranged to vary the location of the point at which the presser descends upon the material.

35. A machine of the class described, having in combination, means for intermittently feeding a piece of material into position to have its margin operated upon, a folder for partially forming the fold, a presser for descending upon the partially folded margin, and mechanism for Varying the extent of the intermittent feed movements during the operation of the machine, said mechanism being constructed and arranged to vary the location of the point at which the presser descends upon the material.

36. A machine of the class described, having in combination, means for intermittently feeding a piece of material into position to have its margin operated upon, a folder for partially forming the fold, a presser for descending upon the partially folded margin, and mechanism for varying the extent of the intermittent feed movements, said mechanism being constructed and arranged to cause the descent of the presser upon the partiallv folded margin to take place at a point close to the folder when the extent of the intermittent feed movements is a minimum and at a point more remote from the folder when the extent of the intermittent feed movements is a maximum.

- 37. A machine of the class described, having in combination, means for intermittently feedinga piece of material into position to have its margin'operated upon, a folder for partially forming the fold, a resser for descending upon the partially olded margin, and mechanism for varying the extent of the intermittent feed movements during the operation of the machine, said mechanism being constructed and arranged tocause the descent of the presser upon the partially folded margin to take place at a point close to the folder when the extent .of the inters mittent feed movements is a minimum and at a point more remote from the folder when the extent of the intermittent feed movements is a maximum.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM F. LAUTENSCHLAGER.

Witnesses:

THERESA M. SILBER, Gno. C. KUHNJ 

